Henry Jones (actor)

American actor (1912–1999)

Henry Burk Jones (August 1, 1912 – May 17, 1999) was an American actor of stage, film, and television.

Jones was born in New Jersey, and was raised in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He was the son of Helen (née Burk) and John Francis Xavier Jones. He was the grandson of Pennsylvania Representative Henry Burk, a German immigrant. Jones attended the Jesuit Saint Joseph's Preparatory School.

Early in his career, he performed with the Hedgerow Theatre near Philadelphia. His first Broadway appearance was in Maurice Evans's 1938 Hamlet. During World War II, he served in the Army and was cast in Irving Berlin's This is the Army. Jones is remembered for his role as handyman Leroy Jessup in the movie The Bad Seed (1956), a role he originated on Broadway. Other theater credits included My Sister Eileen, The Time of Your Life, They Knew What They Wanted, The Solid Gold Cadillac, and Sunrise at Campobello, for which he won the Tony Award for Best Performance by a Featured Actor in a Play, and the Outer Critics Circle Award for Performance in a Drama. His last Broadway role was in Advise and Consent in 1960–1961. Jones appeared in more than 180 films and television shows. His screen credits included The Girl Can't Help It with Jayne Mansfield, 3:10 to Yuma with Van Heflin, Will Success Spoil Rock Hunter? with Jayne Mansfield and Tony Randall, Alfred Hitchcock's Vertigo with James Stewart, Cash McCall with James Garner, The Bramble Bush with Richard Burton, Rascal with Bill Mumy, Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid with Paul Newman and Robert Redford, Dirty Dingus Magee with Frank Sinatra, Support Your Local Sheriff with James Garner and Walter Brennan, Support Your Local Gunfighter with James Garner, 9 to 5 with Dolly Parton and Lily Tomlin, and Arachnophobia with Jeff Daniels. On television, Jones' best remembered role was as the title character's father in law in the 1970s sitcom Phyllis. Jones portrayed Jed McCoy on a 1961 episode of the sitcom The Real McCoys. He had a regular role on the drama Channing, with Jason Evers. Jones also appeared on Appointment with Adventure, Alfred Hitchcock Presents, The Investigators, The Eleventh Hour, Bewitched, Night Gallery, Emergency!, The Mod Squad, Daniel Boone with Fess Parker, Gunsmoke, The Twilight Zone, Thriller, Adam 12, The Doris Day Show, Father Knows Best, The Dukes of Hazzard, Flo, Magnum, P. I. with Tom Selleck, The Untouchables with Robert Stack, Hawkins with James Stewart, Kolchak: The Night Stalker with Darren McGavin, MacGyver, Mr. Belvedere, The George Burns and Gracie Allen Show with Burns and Allen,The Mary Tyler Moore Show and Falcon Crest. He played Dr. Smith's cousin in a 1966 episode of Lost in Space, "Curse of Cousin Smith", and with R. J. Hoferkamp in the 1968 made for television movie Something for a Lonely Man. In 1967, he guest starred as mysterious time travelling villain Mr. Pem in the episode "A Time to Die" of the Sci Fi TV show Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea. Jones returned as Pem in the 110th and last episode of the series, "No Way Back". Starting in 1974, he guest starred three times on The Six Million Dollar Man as Dr. Jeffrey/Chester Dolenz. This character was a brilliant scientist who built lifelike robots, but although every plot was foiled, he still managed to escape to fight another day. In 1978, he appeared in the Barney Miller episode "The Prisoner". In the mid 1980s, Jones appeared at local dining theatre productions, including Winnipeg's Stage West.

Jones was a Republican and supported the campaign of Dwight Eisenhower in the 1952 presidential election. Jones died in UCLA Medical Center in Los Angeles, California, at age 86 from complications from injuries suffered in a fall at his home in Santa Monica, California.

Year Title Roles Notes 1943 This Is the Army Mr. Brown/World War One Bugle Audition Observer 1949 Strawhat Cinderella Stage Director Short film directed and written by Justin Herman, uncredited 1950 Cowboy Crazy Papa in His Study Short film directed by and written by Justin Herman 1951 The Lady Says No Potsy Comedy film directed by Frank Ross 1953 Society Man Narrator Short film directed and produced by Justin Herman Taxi ThorndikeDrama film directed by Gregory Ratoff, uncredited 1956 The Bad Seed Leroy Jessup Thriller film directed by Mervyn LeRoy The Girl He Left Behind Hanson The Girl Can't Help It Mousie 1957 Will Success Spoil Rock Hunter? Henry Rufus Satirical comedy film directed by Frank Tashlin 3:10 To Yuma Alex Potter Western film directed by Delmer Daves 1958 Vertigo Coroner Drama film directed by Alfred Hitchcock 1960 Cash McCall Gilmore Clark Romantic drama film directed by Joseph Pevney The Bramble Bush Parker Welk 1961 Angel Baby Ben Hays 1965 Never Too Late Dr. James Kimbrough Comedy film directed by Bud Yorkin 1967 The Champagne Murders Mr. Clarke 1968 Stay Away, Joe Hy Slager Western comedy film directed by Peter Tewksbury Project X Dr. Crowther 1969 Support Your Local Sheriff! Henry Jackson Angel in My Pocket Mayor Will Sinclair Comedy film feature directed by Alan Rafkin Rascal Garth Shadwick Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid Bike Salesman Western film directed by George Roy Hill 1970 The Cockeyed Cowboys of Calico County Hanson Rabbit, Run Mr. Angstrom Dirty Dingus Magee Rev. Green 1971 Support Your Local Gunfighter Ez Comedy western film directed by Burt Kennedy Skin Game Sam 1972 Napoleon and Samantha Mr. Gutteridge Pete 'n' Tillie Mr. Tucker 1973 Tom Sawyer Mr. Dobbins Musical film directed by Don Taylor The Outfit Doctor 1980 Nine to Five Hinkle Comedy film directed by Colin Higgins 1982 Deathtrap Porter Milgrim Drama film directed by Sidney Lumet 1983 Balboa Jeffry Duncan 1989 Nowhere to Run Judge Culbert 1990 Enid Is Sleeping Old Man Dick Tracy Night Clerk Action comic film directed by Warren Beatty Arachnophobia Dr. Sam Metcalf Thriller film directed by Frank Marshall The Grifters Mr. Simms Neo noir film directed by Stephen Frears 1994 Breathing Lessons Sam TV movie